Photographic background-printing frame



P. H.'WICHERS AND C. J. BOEGER. PHOTOGRAPHIC BACKGROUND PRINTING FRAME.

APmcATloN FILED mAY29.192o.

1 ,409,629, Patented Miu'. 14, 1922.

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P. H'. WICHERS AND C. I. BOEGER.

PHOTOGRAPHIC BACKGROUND PRINTING FRAME.

APPLICATION man MAY29, |920.

1,409,629. i Patented Mar.14,1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

P. H. WICHERS AND C. J. BOEGER.

PHOTOGRAPHIG BACKGROUND PRINTING FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, |920.

Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@Hoznci UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER H. WICHERS, OF RUSSELL, AND CHARLES J.-BOEGER, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS.

PHOTOGRAPHIC BACKGROUND-:PRIN TIN G FRAME.

* 400# C29 1,1: n), i i e i Application led May 29,

To @ZZ 207mm t mag/concern.'

Be it known that we, PETER H. VVioHnRs and CHARLES J'. Bonenn, respectively citizens. of the German Republic and of the United States, residing at Russell and Topeka, respectively, in the counties of Russell and Shawnee, respectively. and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Photographic Background-Printing Frames, of which the followingl is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to the art of photography, and particularly to means Jfor print a background upon the sheet of sensitized papers, either entirely around or close to the subject, or as a mat.

The invention has for its object the provision ot a very simple device adapted to be, used with a photographic printing machineoii any usual or suitable type, and embodying nieans'for holding a negative in placev upon the upper surface ot the supporting glass ofthe printing` machine while `the usualprints lare being ina-de and supn porting a mask in connection with the negative so as to prevent the action of light upon the sensitizedv sheet, except as regards the subject of the photograph itseli, and provide means whereby after the photographs have been initially printed but not developed, the mask may be removed..y a background nega-tive substituted for the subject negative, and the sheets ot undeveloped and partially printedphotographic paper may be placed back in position on the printing machine to receive the printing of the background.

A further object is to provide a device of this kind by which Athe negative, the sensitized paper and the various masks may be accurately centered, and in this connection 'to provide means whereby the negative support may be shifted out of place over the glass sheet forming` the top of the printing machine to permit the application. to the glass of the printing machine ot a subject mask and then the negative support shiited back into the same position that it occupied betore over the printing frame or machine so as to therebyaccurately center the sheets of sensitized paper when they7 are disposed thereon for the purpose of printing a background. 4

A further object is to provide a device oi this character which is adapted to be Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1922. 1920. serial 110,385,263.

used in connection with photographs of different sizes and to have a relatively Wide range of application. l

.And another object is to provide a device of this character which is very simple, can he easily manipulated, and which has been 1ound thoroughly effective in practice.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description. i

Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through an electrically lighted printing machine showing our printing frame in place thereon 'for the initial printing operation;

Figure 2 is a like view to Figure 1, but showing the parts applied thereto for the second printing opera-tion;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figures 1 and 2, and showing the parts used for the initial printing operation;

Figure et is a fragmentary section on the line 1--4 ot' Fig. 3;

Y' Figure 5 is a fragmentary section on the une 5-5 of Figure 8;

Figure 6 is a' perspective view of the negative carrier;

Figure 7 mask;

Figure 8 is a perspective View of the base plate or board of the frame;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of an alternative form oit the construction shown in Figure 6; i

Figure 101 is a perspective view of the piece 37 used with the plate shown in Fig` ure 9;

Figure 11 is a masking plate 25a;

Figure 12 is a perspective holding strip 16;

Figure 13 is a perspective clamping strip 16a;

Figure 14 is a perspective subject mask;

Figure 15 is a perspective bolt 32;

Figure 16 is a perspective bolt 19;

Figures 17 and 18 are fragmentary face views of diierent forms of background negatives. y

Referring to these drawings, it will be seen that our printing device includes a plate or board 10 (see Figure 8), which may be is a perspective view of the perspective view of the o the of the view view

view of the view of the view of the made of hard fiber, pasteboard or any other suitable material, which is' preferably rectangular in form and preferably oblong. The middle portion of this board is formed with a square opening 11 which has an area slightly larger than the negative designed to be printed. Surrounding three sides of this opening is a rabbette'd recess providing ledges 12 which extend around three sides of this shoulder, and the upper surface of the board is cut away, as at 13, on a level with these ledges 12 very nearly to the end of the boa-rd. Passing through this recessed portion 13 is a hole 14 for the passage of a bolt. The opposite end of the board or plate 10 is inwardly slotted, as at 15, at two points, these slots opening upon the end of the board or plate. Coacting with this board 10 and designed to support it in proper position upon the glass platea of a printing machine A, as shown in Figure 1, is a transverse metallic strip 16 which may be of thin sheet metal and which is longitudinally slotted, as at 17, this slot having an enlargement 18 at one end. This strip 16 is disposed over and upon the front, side or rear wall of the printing machine, and the wood or other material of the printing machine is recessed beneath this slot 17 Disposed within this slot 17 are the bolts 19. The Shanks of these bolts at their inner ends are reduced, as at 20, (see Figure 16) said reduced portions having a width just equal to the width of the slot 17 so as to move smoothly therein and having parallel side edges so that the bolts cannot turn within the slot. The bolts terminate in a relatively large head 21. Engagingr with the bolts are the wing nuts 22. ly this means, it is obvious that the plate or board 10 may be clamped firmly down upon the strip 16 and thus accurately adjusted on the top of the printing machine. Thus, this plate 10 may be shifted parallel to the length of the slot 17 or the plate may be shifted longitudinally, that is transversely of the slot 17. Thus, any de sired adjustment for the plate or board 1() may be secured. Preferably, a plate 16 is disposed over the slotted portion of the plate or board 10 having two perforations for the bolts 19. The faces of these plates 16 and 16a are roughened.

Formed upon the upper surfaces of the board 10 is an angularl rib 23 disposed at the corner of the opening 12, and hinged to this angular rib is an angular strip 24 whose inner edges align absolutely with the inner wall 12a extending upward from the ledges 12. This hingedstrip, however, is wider than the ledges 12.

Coacting with the plate or board 10 is a lrectangular frame 25 or border mask which,

as illustrated in Figure 7, has an outside area permitting it to fit snugly between the walls 12a and to rest upon the ledges 12.

This frame is provided upon three or more of its sides with strips 26 which extend outward from the margins of the frame and are adapted to rest upon the upper surface of the ledges 12 at the margin of the opening 11. This frame 25 has a rectangular opening 2T which is somewhat smaller than the negative which is designed to be printed.

Coacting with the plate 10 and the frame 25 a negative engaging frame 28 (see Figure 6) also rectangular in plan, but having a longitudinally extending portion 29 having a relatively large opening 30. This frame is cut out at its cent-er, as at 31, and this opening 31 is just the size of the negative to be printed so that the negative will lit snugly within this frame and is formed with the supporting ledge 31, Passing through the openings 14 and 3() is a bolt 32 having a relatively large head 33 engaging on the under side of the plate or board 10 and having a wing nut 34 and a relatively large washer 35 which engages over the upper face of the extension 29 of the frame 28.

In the use of this device, the board or plate 10 is first placed on top of the glass a of an ordinary electrically lighted printing machine where negatives are ordinarily placed for printing, and the bolts 19 engaged with the slots 15 and the plate 1() adjusted into correct position upon the upper surface of the glass, as shown in Figure 1. Then the nuts 22 are tightened so that the plate 10is held in its properly adjusted position. After this is secured, the frame or border mask 25 is inserted in the large opening 11 of the board or plate 10. This frame 25, which is relatively wide, constitutes a mask cutting oil' light from the border of the paper upon which the photograph is to be printed. After the frame 25 is placed in position, the frame 28'is put in place with its opening 30 over the opening 14 and with the bolt 32 in position. The nut is not yet tightened at this time, however. The large opening in the frame 28 is now over the opening in the frame 25 and the negative B (which is supposed to be an S i; 10 negative) is now placed in the opening-31. This brings the negative over the opening in the frame The negative with its carrying frame 28 may now be moved about so that the subject is brought over the center' of the opening in the frame 25. 1V hen this occurs. the nut 34 is tightened so that the negative frame will be held in proper position with reference to the opening 31 and with reference to the angular strip 24 and angular rib 23 so that the negative is properly centered.

Assuming that an 8 x 10 negative is being printed, then printing paper having an area of 11 X 14 will be used. The paper is placed against the negative with a corner of the paper accurately engaged with the square ture. To this end, .a cut out or' 23 or register guide. By doing this, the paper will be accurately centered the subject will now print in the proper place on the printing paper C. Any desired number of prints will be new exposed or printed before changing the boards tor the second and final process.

It will be noted that the part of the printing paper not covered by the negative is protected by the frame 25 and the board lO so it is not touched by the light in this first printing. After the prints have been made, they are laid away in such a manner that it can be ascertained just how the prints were laid in the first printing., that is the sheets must all be disposed in exactly the same direction. The prints must be so disposed that the upper ends of the sheets and the lower ends o1C the sheets will always be known, it being understood that at this time the prints have not been developed but have been merely printed. Our device is now to be adjusted for the printing of the background on every part of the sheet of sensitized paper except that covered by the subject. This background may be of various kinds. We have illustrated in Figure 17 a magnified view or' what is termed a grass cloth background or a`sort ot mat finish, but it will be understood7 of course, that we do not wish to be limited to the use of any particular background.

lt is, of course, necessary in printing the background that the subject oi the picture shall be .protected trom the light. ln all cases it is necessary, of course,lto protect the actual subject of the picture, but in some cases it is desirable to entirely protect that portion oll the picture immediately sui'- rounding the subject from the background printing or partially protect it, and in other cases it may be desirable to have the background extend entirely to or even taintly show through the' actual subject of the picthin paper is made vwhich iseither partially or entirely opaque, depending upon whether it desired to have any of the background or grass cloth el'ect appear adjacent to the subject. rlhis cut out is made by placing a partially transparent paper over the negative `with the light. shining through, and` tracing the outline iE the subject, making the outline` so that the cut out will. be justr a little larger than the subject. -la-ving made this cut out,

' the partially transparent paper may be used desired weight of paper vor tissue, and ordinarily this cut out mask will be made in the first instance before the printing is started.

Assuming that this cut out has been made, the next step, after the subject has been printed and the sensitized paper removed, is as follows :The nut 34 is left tight so that as a pattern 'for making the cut out oiI any the negative and the negative carrier 28 must remain in the same position relative to the angular guide that they were in when the irst printing was done. The nuts 22, however, are now loosened and the entire device with its several plates, frames and masks is pushed to one side or lifted entirely from the machine, care being taken that the negative carrying trame 28 is not shifted at all with relation te the guide rib or square 23. The cutout 36 is now placed on a glass sheet D which is disposed just beneath the glass top or' the printing machine and is held in thisposition so that the cut out will be immediately below the top glass on which the masks rest, as shown in Figure 2. For the next printing process, this cutout must be so placed that when the mask is put back on the printing machine, it will be possible to move the mask to such a position that the cut out below will be immediately beneath the subject on the negative carrier 2S. lVhen the plate l0 with its masks has been so adjusted that the image of the subject is immediately above and protected Vfrom the light by the cut out 3G, the bolts through the slots l5 are tightened very securely so that the whole device will be held in exactly the same position relative to the cut out 3G throughout the remainder oi the process. The bolt 32 is now loosened and the mask 25 and iti-ame 28 or negative carrier are either entirely removed from the printing machine or turned around ont ot the way so that they will not interfere with the next step ot the process. This leaves only the board or plate l() with its large opening lil disposed upon the top of the printing machine.V ln this opening l1 and on ledges l2 is placed a background negative E having thereon the effect which is desired to have appear on the iinished print. Thus, tor instance, this negative is a photographic negative ot a piece of grass cloth, as shown in Figure 17. The paper cut out 36 is in position beneath this background negative and beneath the glass top oie printing machine.

lt will thus be seen that if the same sheets ot printing paper are now placed back on this surface with the same corners in the sanare or guide 23, the part of the paper on which the subject has been printed (but which subject has not yet been developed) will rest immediately above the paper cut out and will be protected by it in this printing proc-ess. All ot' the prints are now placed on this surta ce` centered as before described. and exposed to light. which will print upon the surface oiI the plates the cloth enect or background. while the subject is entirely protected or partially protected, as may be desired. 'troni this printing by the paper cut out. This second exposure. that is the printing process, and the prints are developed and finished in the usual way. If

care has been used in getting the proper shape and size of the cut out and adjusting the several masks, a perfect picture will result.

It will, of course, be understood that the paper cut out 36A may have an absolutely opaque central portion which will entirely cover the actual subject of the picture and a more or less transparent marginal portion 36 which, in the completed print, will form a relatively dark background immediately surrounding the actual subject but through which the grass cloth eflect or background eil'ect will appear, either entirely or in places.

The various elements heretofore described, we will assun'ie, are designed for printing 8 X l() negatives with a border or 11 X 14 negatives without a border, but we have designed our device to be used for the printing or' smaller negatives as well as negatives S X 10, and thus where it is desired to print a 5 X 7 negative, additional masks and negative carriers are used. In this case, in place of the rectangular mask 25, a masking plate 25, as in Figure 11, is used having in it a relatively small opening 27a. This masking plate 252l has an area sufficient to rest within the opening li of the plate or board 1() in the manner heretofore described. A negative carrier 2r 1 is used in place of the negative carrier 28 and in eXactly the same Way as the negative carrier 28. carrier 28a is provided with the opening 30 for the passage of the bolt 32 and with the square negative opening 31, The negative carrier is adjusted upon the frame 25a in the same way as heretofore described, and the prints made in exactly the manner heretofore described. In order to provide for the making of 5 X 8 negatives as well as 5 X 7 negatives, the opening 31 may be eX- tended an inch so that this opening will be 5 in one direction and 8 in another direction lengthwise, and a strip 37 is adapted to be disposed in this space, this strip being an inch wide so that when the strip is in place, the active opening 31 is 5 X 7. When the strip is removed, the opening is 5 X 8.

The edges of this piece 37 are so cut that it will sustain itself in position within the opening 3'1.

By the use of the pieces 10, 25, 28, 25* and 28, provision is made for the printing ot the three ordinary sizes of negatives, 5 X 7, 5 X 8. and S X 10. It will be understood, oi course, that it will be possible to make a set of masks for any size of picture. but these are the sizes which are mostly used. It will also be understood that where an 8 X 10 negative is used` the printing paper will be 11 X 14, and with anegative having an area of 5 X 7 or 5 X 8, the printing paper will be 7 X 11. Of course, these sizes are purely illustrative, as are' the sizes given for the several plates, masks, etc;

This negative Our device is very simple and in actual practice has been found thoroughly effective for the purpose of printing a background of any desired character on the picture. Thus, with our device it is possible to print the subject in the usual manner and to print a relatively dark background close to the subject but having thereon indications of the background, and eXteriorly of this immediate background to print a background forming the margin of the picture like a grass cloth mat.

While we have illustrated a construction which we have found to be very simple and yet thoroughly effective, yet we do not wish to be limited to the details of construction, as it is obvious thatmany changes might be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

7e claim 1. A photographic printing device for use with photographic printing machines having a ground glass comprising a plate having an opening larger than the negative to be printed and having means whereby it may be detachably engaged with the printing machine and adjusted over the ground glass thereof and held in adjusted position, a mask fitting within the opening in the plate and having a central opening slightly smaller than the negative to be printed, and a negative carrier having an opening the size of the negative to receive the latter and adapted to be disposed over the mask and having means whereby it may be detachably engaged with said plate and adjusted with relation to the negative mask and held in adjusted position.

A photographic printing device for use with photographic printing machines having a ground glass comprising a plate having an opening larger than the negative to be printed and formed to provide a mask seat and having means whereby it may be detachably engaged with the printing machine and adjusted over the ground glass thereof and held in adjusted position, a mask adapted to be disposed in the mask seat formed on said plate and having a central opening slightly smaller than the negative to be printed, said mask being formed to provide a negative carrier seat, and a negative carrier having an opening the size of the negative to receive the latter and adapted to be disposed upon the mask and having means whereby it may be detachably engaged with said plate and adjusted with relation to the negative mask and held in adjusted position, said plate having an angular guide at one of the corners of said opening whereby to center the printing paper.

3. A photographic printing device for use with photographic printing machines having a ground glass comprising a plate having an vopening larger than the negative I. to he printed and having means whereby it may be detachably engaged with the printing machine and adjusted over the ground glass thereof, a mask fitting within the opening in the plate and having a central opening slightly smaller than the negative to be printed, and a negative carrier having an opening the size of the negative to receive the latter and adapted to be disposed over the mask and having means whereby it may be detachably engaged with said plate and adjusted with relation to the negative mask, said plate having an angular guide at one oit the corners ot said opening whereby to center the printing paper, said guide having an angular hinged section projecting overthe opening in the plate and adapted to be turned down over the mask.

l. 'A photographic printing device for use 'with photographic printing machines having a ground glass comprising a plate having an opening larger than the negative to be printed and rahbeted upon its upper 'tace around said opening to provide a seat, said plate having means whereby it may be de-V tachably engaged with printing machine and adjusted upon the ground glass thereof and'heldy in adjusted position, a mask fitting said seat in the plate and having a central opening smaller than the negative to be printed, and a negative supporting trame having an opening the size of the negative and adapted to be disposed over the mask and having means whereby it may be detachably engaged with said plate and held adjustedjoverthe mask, the plate at one corner of the opening therein having an angular guide, the inner edges oiI which are coincident with the corner of the rabheted inargin of said opening.

5,. A photographic printing device for use with photographic printing machines having a ground dass comprising a plate having an opening larger than the negative to bc printed and rabbeted upon its upper face around said opening to provide a seat, the tace of the plate at one end being recessed to the level of said scat, said plate having means at its opposite end whereby it may be detaehably engaged with a printing machine and held adjusted over the ground glass thereof, a mask iitting said seat and having a thickness equal to the depth ci' said recessed portion, and the seat having a central opening slightly smaller than the negative to be printed, yand a negative carrying trame having an opening the size of the negative and adapted to be disposed over the mask and having an eXtension disposed within the recess on the face of the plate, and means passing through the extension of the plate whereby the negative carrier may be held in adjusted position upon the plate, said plate at one corner of its rabbeted portion having an angular guide rib.,

6. A photographic printing device for use with photographic printing machines having a ground glass comprising a platehaving an opening .larger than the negative to be printed and rabbetcd upon its upper tace around said opening to provide a seat, the face of the plate at one end being recessed to the level of said seat, said plate having means at its opposite end whereby it may be detachably engagel'l with a printing machine and held adjusted over the ground glass thcreof, a mask fitting said and having a thickness equal to the depth ci said recessed portion, and thc seat having u ceutral opening slightly smaller than the negative to be printed, and a negative oari'ing frame having an opening the sii/,e the negative and adapted to be disposed over the inask and having an extension disposed within the recess on the tace oi' the plate, and a bolt passing through said extension and through the recessed portion of the plate whereby the negative carrier and the plate may he clamped together and the negative carrier held in adjusted position upon the plate and mask. one corner o' the rabbcted portion ot the plate having an angular guide rib.

7. A photographic printing device for use with photographic printing machines having a ground glass comprising a plate having an opening larger than the negative to be printed and having at one end longitudinally extending, parallel slots, the opposite end ot the plate having a bolt opening,

means ltor supportingsaid plate upon a printing machine comprising a longitudinally slotted plate ext-ending transversely of the lirst named plate and beneath the same, sliding bolts disposed in said slot in the second named plato and adapted to engage through the slots in the lirst named plate whereby the iirst named plate may be held in adjusted position upon the ground glass of the printing machine, a mask fitting within the opening of the plate and having a central opening smaller than the negative to be printed, and a negative carrying f 1ame having an opening the size of the negative and adapted to be disposed over the mask and having an extension formed with a bolt opening registering with the bolt opening in the lirst named plate, and a bolt passing through said openings.

8. A. photographic printing device for use with photographic printing machines having a ground glass comprising a plate having an opening larger than the negative to be printed and having means whereby it may be detachably engaged with the printing machine and held adjusted over the lground glass thereof, a mask fitting Within the opening in the plate and having a central opening slightly smaller than the negative to be printed, a negative carrier having an opening the size of the negative to receive the latter and adapted to be disposed over the mask and having means whereby it may be detachably engaged with said plate and adjusted with relation to the negative mask, and a filling strip adapted to fit across the opening in one end of the mask to thereby reduce the area of this opening, or be removed therefrom to increase the area of the opening.

9. The combination with a photographie printing machine having a ground glass, of a printing frame for use therewith comprising a. plate resting upon the ground glass and having at one end longitudinally extending slots, a supporting strip mounted upon the wall of the printing frame and having a longitudinally extending slot with a relatively enlarged opening at one end, bolts having their heads disposed beneath said strip and having rectangular shanks passing out through said slot and through the slots or' the plate, nuts engaging said bolts whereby the plate maybe held in adjusted position, said plate having an opening larger than the negative to be printed and at its end opposite the slots having a bolt opening, the upper face of the plate being recessed immediately surrounding said opening to form a seat and said recess eX- tending longitudinally at the last named end of the plate and the plate being provided at one corner of said recessed portion of the opening with an angular guide having an angular hinged section, a mask having a thickness equal to the depth of the recess in the plate and adapted to y,lit within said recess, the mask having an opening slightly smaller` than the negative to be printed, and a negative frame having an opening the size of the negative and adapted to be disposed over the mask and having an extension formed with a bolt opening adapted to register with the bolt opening in the plate, said extension itting in the recessed portion of the plate, and a bolt passing through said extension and the bolt opening in the plate, whereby the negative carrier may be held in adjusted position upon the mask and plate.

l0. A photographic printing device for use with photographic printing machines having a ground glass comprising a plate having an opening larger than the negative to be printed and having means whereby it may be detachably engaged with a printing machine and be snpported upon the ground glass thereof and held in adjusted position, a mask adapted to close the opening in the plate and having an opening smaller than the negative to be printed, and means for removably supporting a negativo over said mask and held in adjusted position.

1l. A photographic printing device comprising a background negative carrying plate having an opening to receive a background negative, a mask having an area the same as that of the opening and having a central opening slightly smaller than the area of the subject negative to be printed, and a subject negativer carrier having an opening the size of the subject negative to receive the latter and adapted to be disposed over said mask or removed from a position thereover.

In testimony whereof we hereunto afix our signatures.

PETER H. WICHERS. CHARLES J. BOEGER. 

